Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-26

capacity OF TWO gallons OF water Every able
engines were supplied with water from pumps or
from the canal or river. The citizens at a IRE
one line passing nom hand to hand the full buck,
cts, the other handing along the empty buckets
Congress frequently adjourned TO allow its men,
bers to assist in extinguishing 1res. / have seen
John Quincy Adams, Mr.. Clay and other distin-
gu1shed citizens at work handing along the IRE
In the year 1904 a board OF trustees was ap-
pointed to make provision for the education Of
such children In the city whose parents were un-
Jet to be achieved Congress- granted the he city
power to raise money by means Of q lottery. The
lottery was, however, badly managed, and its OBJ
1ect was not attained.
AN OLD MURDER MYSTERY.
In the year 1920 our merchants dealt largely in
Alexandria, then part OF this District. william
Secord an enterpris1ng and well-to-do grocery
merchant, went to Alexandria to replenish his
stock. on his way home from that place he was
the Long bridge by some person unknown. His
body was discovered and brought to this city:
such was the produced this
States; the mayor OF Washington the mayors Of
Georgetown and Alexandria, all issued proclama-
conviction OF the murderers. Town meetings were
held In this city and Alexandria, at which addi-
tional rewards were offered. Our city council re-
solved TO proceed to the place where the murder
was committed and to scour the woods to search
for the guilty ones. But all efforts made to find
the murderer or murderers failed, and to this day
the ana1r remains mystery.
In the year 1905 the city pOorhouse was located
on square AS which was purchased by the city
duced the council to change the location to the
eastern end Of the city.
SUNRISE 10 SUNSET SCHOOLS
There were a number OF private schools in the
city before the war of 1912. Mr. Mcleod with
Hugh Mcguire, had one near the navy yard but
they afterwards moved to school building on the
where nj hN,foGt rrv a h1fr
erected. Subsequently Mr.. Mcleod built small
schoOlhouse on the southwest corner OF 10th
sne and eTt . 1sssd e 18th
nrst law" Mr.. Mcleod had his pupils in
dinner hours, and when not detained by failures
In lessons they would be able TO reach their homes
IN time for tea. In the other schools the morning
or sunrise session was not held. Some Of the best
citizens OF the District received their education
under the strict discipline OF Mr.. Mcleod. The
9repe c Oh 1naI Gay We're GLAD enough II their chill
Murray's Reader, Watts Arithmetic and Murray's
Grammar were the books used. The smaller pupils
learned to trace letters in sand on the tops OF their
desks and as they advanced siates-much more
cumbersome than those OF the present day-were
used. Pnmmets, or pointed pieces OF lead, were
come familiar with these, the pupils were allowed
TO use copybooks. Ink, pens and paper were rather
scarce in those days. 49,
EARLY MUNICIPAL REFORMS
During the mayoralty OF Thomas Carberry, who
was elected in 1922 new order or things was in
troduced into our city much to the grati6 uion Of
those who had been hoping for improven. mt and
reform. New streets and avenues were opened
and graded foOtwayS laid down in every direction,
street lamps introduced and portion OF the city
supplied with water from newly discovered spring
on 18th street, between and streets. Mr.. Car
berry first introduced the practice now revived by
our commissioners requiring the inmates OF the
work house to labor on the public streets At this
period in our municipal history the city council
was COmNOCp0 Of hest cjTtznnG q
George Watterson, Daniel Carroll and others.
SCHOOL FUNDS BY LOTTERY.
Congress having granted the city a permit to
raise by lottery means to build city hall, school
houses and penitentiary, managers were ap-
pointed and agents employed to dispose Of the
had assumed the duties of mayor he discovered
that the whole affair had been conducted loosely
Citizens had entered nso the a
charge OF their duties without giving bonds as
the law required: The agents were put in posses
became unfaithfu to their trusts and our city met
pecuniary loss Of more than 100000.
MISTRESS ORR AND GEN. JACKSON.
The square Of ground on which the Patent of1ce
now stands was selected by Gen. Washington as
site for a national church. AS the constitution
f0rbids legislation on that subject, the project
was never carried out This square was squatted
on by an old gentleman named Orr, who also cul-
Patent ONCE. These latter were known as orr's
orchard. Mr.. Orr died. leaving the Patent Office
square IN the occupancy OF his widow and having
held und1Sputed possession OF the premises for
many years, the widow was under the full belief
that she was the sole proprietor of the SOIL After
the burning OF the old Patent office, during the
administration OF Gen. Jackson, Congress de-
termlned to erect q building on that square, and
sent an engineer and an architect to take possess
sion Of it. Mrs. orr, then upwards OF eighty
0nnOSp6 q G q NM vroc
planted or a peg driven Mrs. Orr, with her own
hands, would removed them. She armed herself
pelted the Workmen right and left until she was
master OF the situation, and absolutely caused
the suspension en ar Of the work for some days,
President Jackson. who declaring that he
would see the old lady in person, ordered his car
r1age anu grove or 10 tne Spot Meeting MIS- OFT and
Irritable bows. and In the kindest manner-a man
ner peculiar 10 Gen. Jackson-he urged her to allow
orr refused to listen to the President and
her astOniShment that Gen. jackson would disturb
her In her old days and drive her away from a
pecially as she had no means Of subsistence and
was completely destitute. She said that her sons
had died In the service Of their country; that her
husband was, when living, great jackson man,
and she recited some poetic lines composed by her
husband eulOg1zing Gen. Jackson for driving the
i British army from New Orleans and urging his
to the story OF Mrs Orr and for once In his life
partially conquered.
''YOu shall be protected madam" he at length
said, land you shall be provided for"
He promised her that he would build house for
her on the lot II she would allow the workmen to
proceed. MIS-. Orr yielded. The house was erected
In the square and Mrs. Orr'S wants were supplied
rom the table OF Gen. jackson while she lived
However she did not long survive the change and
died soon afterwards.
AN EYEWITNESS AT THR AQUEDUcT CEREMONIES,
November Sth, 1853, at about 8 o'clock q. m,
started with quite number of the members of
the city council to witness the commencement OF
the great aqueduct which was to convey the
waters OF the Potomac to the city. Getting into q
large omnibus, which was already quite crowded
we rode TO Georgetown to take our places In the
boat for the Great Falls Upon our arrival there
the mayor OF washington announced that the
ceremony would begin, and, after prayer by Rev.
Mr.. Pyne, the President of the United States
FRANKLIN Pierce, made short speech and then.
taking shovel he turned the first turf and placed
II In wheelbarrOw. Then Jefferson Davis the
Secretary OF War, dug spadefuL noticed sew
eral persons trying to get portion OF the contents
OF the barrow, and was among the number. The
excavation was continued by Senator Douglas
Mayor Maury and ex-MayOr SeatOn. The mayor
Of Georgetown was called for. He was not there
powe ssa 9i the board
dent OF the BOARD OF common council, followed.
Then the presidents OF the councils OF Georgetown
were called, but, like the mayor, were among the
missing; other gentlemen represented them.
lastly Thomas Richie. This closed the ceremO-
MES. The first speech, however, pronounced on
the ground was by Capt. MegS, the U. 8. engineer
who had charge OF the work. The banquet was
then announced: AL were on the boats again by
four O'Clock, nothing having occurred to make any
person unhaDDy. InOttced arnono others fI,o roy